Method and device for populating circuit boards by fixedly assigned components on at least two assembly lines

ABSTRACT

A method for populating circuit boards with a quantity of required component types on at least two assembly lines, wherein fixedly assigned Components can be mounted on each assembly line, wherein the method includes the following steps: a) acquiring circuit board types; b) acquiring component types; c) acquiring fixedly assigned component clusters for each assembly line; d) acquiring circuit board types that can be assigned to a fixedly assigned component cluster for each assembly line; e) acquiring circuit board types that can be assigned to a cluster extension for each fixedly assigned component cluster f) determining an assignment of circuit board types to fixedly assigned component clusters and cluster extensions; and g) optimising the determined assignment until an assignment quality exceeds a predeterminable level.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to PCT Application No.PCT/EP2020/071262, having a filing date of Jul. 28, 2020, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The following relates to a method and device for populating circuitboards by a component setup on at least two assembly lines in amanufacturing facility.

BACKGROUND

An assembly line in a manufacturing or production facility, whichtypically comprises multiple assembly lines, is configured to populateone or more circuit boards with a number of components.

In many factories or manufacturing facilities in the field ofelectronics production, circuit boards (or assemblies) to bemanufactured have gradually become assigned to the SMT assembly lines ofthe respective factories. Because of technical restrictions, not everycircuit board can be manufactured or populated on every assembly line.The circuit boards usually also have different production times on theassembly lines. Moreover, the maximum production time capacities of theassembly lines cannot be exceeded.

A distinction may be made here between variant component manufacturingand fixedly assigned component manufacturing.

In variant component manufacturing, the circuit boards to bemanufactured or populated are divided into component clusters(“clusters”) for a short planning horizon (approximately 1-5 days). Acomponent cluster is a set of circuit board types which is producibleusing a predetermined number of component types on the assembly line.The set of the component types required for this purpose is called thecomponent setup and is typically accommodated in a set of shuttletables. A shuttle table is typically equipped with the matchingcomponents of the component types in the preliminary setup forproduction and stripped again thereafter. Multiple such shuttle tablesform a shuttle table set.

In fixedly assigned component manufacturing, the component setups forthe circuit boards to be manufactured are fixedly equipped on shuttletables for a longer term (approximately 6-12 months). In the case ofmultiple fixed component setups per assembly line, the shuttle tablesare exchanged accordingly upon the component cluster change. Theequipping and stripping of shuttle tables is then no longer necessary inthe daily production.

The productions are often also operated in mixed form, wherein a part ofthe circuit boards are produced in fixedly assigned componentmanufacturing and another part are produced in variant componentmanufacturing on the same assembly line. Due to the lower expenditurefor planning, stock keeping, preliminary setup, and refitting, ingeneral attempts are made to increase the portion of the fixedlyassigned component manufacturing and reduce the portion of the variantcomponent manufacturing.

The goals in production planning are, for example:

-   -   (a) The component expenditure on the assembly lines is to be as        low as possible. Therefore, as many circuit boards as possible        are to be able to be manufactured using fixed component setups.    -   (b) The number of component clusters on the assembly lines is to        be as low as possible to reduce the refitting time expenditure.    -   (c) The total production time is to be as minimal as possible.

However, there is still another goal which is very important inpractice:

Since the planning horizon is rather medium-term in the present case,there are uncertainties with respect to the future piece counts of thecircuit board types. This can result in real utilization/productiontimes of the assembly lines deviating undesirably strongly from theproduction plan. In particular, some assembly lines can stand “empty”due to underutilization, while other assembly lines are overloaded andcannot process their production orders in a timely manner.

If multiple similar assembly lines are present, which are each operatedwith fixed component setups, it is possible to exchange the fixedcomponent setups between the assembly lines.

SUMMARY

An aspect relates to a method and a device even more flexible than theabove-mentioned conventional art, in particular in the industrialenvironment, so that the most uniform possible utilization of theassembly lines can be achieved, in particular if one of the assemblylines is possibly to fail entirely or partially.

Embodiments of the invention claim a method for populating circuitboards by a component setup on at least two assembly lines in amanufacturing facility,

-   -   wherein the component setup comprises a number of component        types, which is sufficient for populating a number of circuit        board types assigned to the component setup, which form a        component cluster of circuit board types,    -   wherein one fixed component setup can be attached during a        predeterminable chronological planning horizon for each assembly        line,    -   wherein a fixed component setup which is fixedly set up on        shuttle tables of a shuttle table set and comprises reserves of        components of the component types in lines remains unchanged        during the planning horizon and can be used repeatedly on the        assembly line; wherein the method comprises the following steps:        -   a) acquiring a set of circuit board types which are to be            populated within the planning horizon in the manufacturing            facility;        -   b) acquiring a set of component types of all circuit board            types to be populated within the planning horizon with their            space requirement on lines of the shuttle table set;        -   c) acquiring a set of fixed component setup component            clusters per assembly line;        -   d) acquiring circuit board types assignable to a fixed            component setup component cluster per assembly line, the            circuit boards of which are to be populated on the assembly            line,        -   e) acquiring circuit board types assignable to a component            cluster expansion per fixed component setup component            cluster, the circuit boards of which are to be populated on            the assembly line, wherein a component cluster expansion            results from a component cluster minus the fixed component            setup component cluster,        -   f) determining an assignment of circuit board types to fixed            component setup component clusters and component cluster            expansions,    -   wherein the assignment takes place in such a way that a space        requirement on lines of the component types assigned to a fixed        component setup component cluster and those assigned to a        component cluster expansion is less than or equal to the number        of lines which have space in the component setup; and    -   wherein the sum of the production times of the circuit boards to        be populated within the planning horizon of those circuit board        types which are assigned to the fixed component setup component        cluster falls below a predeterminable limiting value,        -   g) optimizing the determined assignment until an assignment            quality exceeds a predeterminable measure;    -   and wherein an advantageous set of additional circuit boards are        to be populated on each assembly line, the population of which        is planned outside the fixed component setup component cluster        and inside the component cluster expansion, and        -   h) setting up the lines with the components, the component            types of which are used for populating the circuit boards in            the respective fixed component setup component clusters and            component cluster expansion.

The populating of the circuit boards on the assembly line is carried outby the component setup from h).

The assignment quality can be determined on the basis of one of thefollowing possibilities:

-   -   a) a number of orders during the planning horizon, wherein each        order relates to populating a number of circuit boards of a        predetermined circuit board type of the fixed component setup        component cluster and/or    -   b) the sum of the circuit boards to be populated within the        planning horizon of those circuit board types which are assigned        to the fixed component setup component cluster;    -   c) the sum of the production times of the circuit boards to be        populated within the planning horizon of those circuit board        types which are assigned to the fixed component setup component        cluster.

Therefore, circuit boards of circuit board types can also bemanufactured or populated on this assembly line, which are actuallysupposed to be manufactured on another assembly line. In the event offailure or overload of the other assembly line, a type of redundancy canthus be provided. Therefore, at least a part of the production from theone or multiple other assembly lines can be taken over using thisassembly line.

The advantageous set of additional circuit boards can be determined orcomputed as follows:

-   -   from a maximum number of additional circuit boards which can be        populated on these assembly lines, and/or    -   from a maximum number of circuit board types, if the additional        circuit boards are populated on this assembly line, and/or    -   from a maximum number of high-priority circuit board types,        and/or    -   from a frequency of the occurrence of one circuit board type        within the circuit boards that can be additionally populated,        and/or    -   from a maximum achievable piece count per unit of time of        circuit boards that can be populated in the manufacturing        facility, and/or    -   from a selection of circuit board types having maximum total        production time which are selected from the set of circuit board        types acquired under a).

The setup of component types on the free lines can thus be optimizedunder the given specifications.

The determination of the assignment from f) and the optimization of thedetermined assignment from g) can be carried out by mixed integer linearprogramming. Significantly better solutions may be achieved by the useof exact mathematical optimization methods than using heuristicspossible in practice. For small IP programs (integer linear programs)standard solvers are usable, e.g., CPLEX, SCIP, Gurobi.

A further aspect of embodiments of the invention is a device in the formof a control device, which is designed for the control of carrying outthe populating of circuit boards by a component setup on each assemblyline in a manufacturing facility.

The control device is suitable for populating circuit boards by acomponent setup on at least two assembly lines in a manufacturingfacility,

-   -   wherein the component setup comprises a number of component        types, which is sufficient for equipping a number of circuit        board types assignable by the component setup, which form a        component cluster of circuit board types,    -   wherein one fixed component setup can be attached during a        predeterminable chronological planning horizon for each assembly        line,    -   wherein a fixed component setup which is fixedly set up on        shuttle tables of a shuttle table set and comprises reserves of        components of the component types in lines remains unchanged        during the planning horizon and can be used repeatedly on the        assembly line; wherein the control device is designed to:        -   a) acquire a set of circuit board types which are to be            populated within the planning horizon in the manufacturing            facility;        -   b) acquire a set of component types of all circuit board            types to be populated within the planning horizon with their            space requirement on lines of the shuttle table set;        -   c) acquire a set of fixed component setup component clusters            per assembly line;        -   d) acquire circuit board types assignable to a fixed            component setup component cluster per assembly line, the            circuit boards of which are to be populated on the assembly            line,        -   e) acquire circuit board types assignable to a component            cluster expansion per assembly line, the circuit boards of            which are to be populated on the assembly line, wherein a            component cluster expansion results from a component cluster            minus the fixed component setup component cluster,        -   f) determine an assignment of circuit board types to fixed            component setup component clusters and component cluster            expansions,    -   wherein the assignment takes place in such a way that a space        requirement on lines of the component types assigned to a fixed        component setup component cluster and those assigned to a        component cluster expansion is less than or equal to the number        of lines which have space in the component setup; and    -   wherein the sum of the production times of the circuit boards to        be populated within the planning horizon of those circuit board        types which are assigned to the fixed component setup component        cluster falls below a predeterminable limiting value,        -   g) optimize the determined assignment until an assignment            quality exceeds a predeterminable measure;    -   and wherein an advantageous set of additional circuit boards are        to be populated on each assembly line, the populating of which        is planned outside the fixed component setup component cluster        and inside the component cluster expansion, and        -   h) control the setting up of the lines with the components,            the component types of which are used for populating the            circuit boards in the respective fixed component setup            component clusters and component cluster expansion.

The device and computer program (products) can be designed or refinedaccording to the above-described method or the refinements/embodimentsof the present method.

Furthermore, a computer program (product) is provided comprising programcode which can be executed by at least one processor and which causesthe at least one processor to carry out the method according toembodiments of the invention. The computer program can run on acomputer, e.g., in the cloud, server, and/or PC or can be stored as acomputer program product (non-transitory computer readable storagemedium having instructions, which when executed by a processor, performactions) on a computer-readable medium. The computer program runs theruntime environment in this case.

In addition, a variant of the computer program (product) can be providedhaving program commands for configuring a generation device, for examplea 3D printer, a computer system, or a production machine capable ofgenerating processors and/or devices.

The means can be hardware, firmware, and/or software units or modules.

If not indicated otherwise in the following description, the terms“carry out”, “calculate”, “computer-based”, “compute”, “establish”,“generate”, “configure”, “reconstruct”, and the like relate to actionsand/or processes and/or processing steps which change and/or generatedata and/or convert the data into other data, wherein the data arerepresented or can be provided in particular as physical variables, forexample as electrical pulses. In particular, the expression “computer”is to be interpreted as broadly as possible, in particular to cover allelectronic devices having data processing properties. Computers can thusbe, for example, personal computers, servers, programmable logiccontrollers (PLC), handheld computer systems, Pocket PC devices, mobileradio devices, and other communication devices which can process data ina computer-based manner, processors, and other electronic devices fordata processing.

“Computer-based” can be understood in conjunction with embodiments ofthe invention, for example, as an implementation of the method in whichin particular a processor executes at least one method step of themethod.

Provide can be understood to mean that the application and/or capabilitypackages thereof is provided to the above-mentioned means, for example,in the form of a processing unit or CPU or a control unit. Provide canalso be understood to mean that the processing unit is provided with anoperation, wherein the operation can be the provided application itselfand/or uses the capability packages for controlling and/or executing theconfiguration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference tothe following figures, wherein like designations denote like members,wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an assembly system which can be used in a manufacturingfacility; and

FIG. 2 schematically shows a flow chart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a populating system 100. The populating system 100comprises one or more assembly lines 110 and a control device 115. Eachassembly line 110 comprises an optional transport system 125 and one ormore populating machines 130. Each populating machine 130 comprises oneor more populating heads 135, which are each configured to pick upcomponents 155 from a shuttle table 140 and position them at apredetermined position on the circuit board 120, which is located on thetransport system 125.

During the populating process, the circuit board 120 is typicallystationary with respect to the populating machine 130. The shuttletables 140 each comprise a plurality of feed devices 150, of which onlyone is shown as an example in FIG. 1 . Each feed device 150 keeps readya reserve of components 155 of a predetermined component type 160. Thefeed device 150 has a capacity for the components 155, which istypically expressed in lines. A line is typically 8 mm wide and thenumber of lines of each feed device 150 is restricted, for example to40. Components 155 of the same component type 160 are typically providedin a belt, on a tray, or in a tube. Each component type 160 requires apredetermined number of lines, which typically adjoin one another, onthe feed device 150.

Each feed device 150 can be configured to keep ready differentcomponents 155 and typically different feed devices 150 can be attachedto a shuttle table 140. If a component 155 of a component type 160 isrequired at the populating machine 130, which is not present in one ofthe shuttle tables 140, one of the attached shuttle tables 140 istypically not provided with the required components 155, but ratherexchanged completely for another, appropriately set up shuttle table140. Setting up a shuttle table 140 to be switched in with components155 is called preliminary setup and can require a processing time in therange of hours.

Since a change of shuttle tables 140 on the assembly line 110 istypically linked to a production stoppage, efforts are made to carry outchanges of the shuttle tables 140 as rarely as possible.

To populate a predetermined set of circuit boards 120, component setupscan be formed which each comprise reserves of components 155 ofpredetermined component types 160, wherein each of the circuit boards120 of the set can be completely populated with components 155 of thecomponent setup. A component setup can be implemented by a number ofshuttle tables 140. A fixed component setup 165, the shuttle tables 140of which are attached to the assembly line 110, and a variant componentsetup 170, the shuttle tables 140 of which are separated from theassembly line 110, are formed in the illustration of FIG. 1 . One ormore fixed component setups 165 and one or more variant component setups170 can be provided. A desired case without variant component setups 170is possible.

The fixed component setup 165 is configured to remain unchanged withrespect to its component types 160 at least during a chronologicalplanning horizon, which can be half a year or a year, for example.Components 155 can thus be refilled at the shuttle tables 140 of thefixed component setup 165 if needed, but the assignment of componenttypes 160 to lines of the shuttle tables 140 remains unchanged. Ifmultiple fixed component setups 165 are provided, these can be exchangedwith one another or with one of the variant component setups 170 withinthe planning horizon.

In the example, only fixed component setups are used on the assemblyline 110 described in more detail.

The control device 115 assigns circuit board types 122, the assignedcircuit boards 120 of which are to be populated on the assembly line110, to a component cluster. A component cluster is a set of circuitboard types 122, the circuit boards 120 of which can be completelypopulated using components 155, which are provided in the assignedcomponent setup 165, 170. A component cluster is typically assigned toprecisely one component setup 165, 170 and vice versa.

Assembly lines which are only operated using fixed component setups areparticularly strongly in danger of underutilization with a fixed circuitboard-line assignment. In the event of overload, circuit boards canpossibly be handed over to assembly lines, on which manufacturing isalso carried out using variant component setups.

In the case of multiple identical assembly lines, which are eachoperated using multiple fixed component setups, one has the flexibilityof exchanging the fixed component setups within the assembly lines.

To increase the manufacturing flexibility in the case of differentassembly lines, which are operated using fixed component setups or inthe case of assembly lines which are each operated using one fixedcomponent setup, it is therefore advantageous if still further circuitboard types assigned to other assembly lines can be manufactured usingthe fixed component setup/the fixed component setups of an assemblyline. This is particularly advantageous if an assembly line entirely orpartially fails. At least a part of the circuit board types of thefailed assembly line can thus be assigned if necessary to assembly lineshaving fixed component setup and the circuit boards thereof can bepopulated there. However, this only functions if lines for accommodatingcomponents are still free on the fixed component setup assembly line andthese components correspond to the component types which are used on theother assembly line.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart. In step 210, first a set of circuit boardtypes which are to be populated within a planning horizon in themanufacturing facility is acquired, then in step 220, fixed componentsetups are acquired or formed and circuit board types assignable to acomponent cluster expansion per fixed component setup component clusterare acquired, the circuit boards of which are to be populated on theassembly line, wherein a component cluster expansion results from acomponent cluster minus the fixed component setup component cluster. Instep 230, a circuit board type-assembly line assignment takes place,wherein the assignment takes place in such a way that a spacerequirement for lines of the component types assigned to a fixedcomponent setup component cluster and the component types assigned to acomponent cluster expansion is less than or equal to the number of lineswhich have space in the setup.

This approach can be based on mixed integer linear optimization.

To form fixed component setups with fixed portions and component clusterexpansion portions or flexible portions, the following procedure isused:

step 210:

-   -   a) acquiring a set of circuit board types which are to be        populated within the planning horizon in the manufacturing        facility;    -   b) acquiring a set of component types of all circuit board types        to be populated within the planning horizon with their space        requirement on lines of the shuttle table set;        step 220:

acquiring the fixed component setups per assembly line. In other words:

-   -   c) acquiring a set of fixed component setup component clusters        per assembly line;    -   d) acquiring circuit board types assignable to a fixed component        setup component cluster per assembly line, the circuit boards of        which are to be populated on the assembly line,    -   e) acquiring circuit board types assignable to a component        cluster expansion per fixed component setup component cluster,        the circuit boards of which are to be populated on the assembly        line, wherein a component cluster expansion results from a        component cluster minus the fixed component setup component        cluster,        and in step 230:    -   f) determining an assignment of circuit board types to fixed        component setup component clusters and component cluster        expansions,    -   wherein the assignment takes place in such a way that a space        requirement on lines of the component types (160) assigned to a        fixed component setup component cluster and those assigned to a        component cluster expansion is less than or equal to the number        of lines which have space in the component setup (165); and    -   wherein the sum of the production times of the circuit boards        (120) to be populated within the planning horizon of those        circuit board types (122) which are assigned to the fixed        component setup component cluster falls below a predeterminable        limiting value,    -   g) optimizing the determined assignment until an assignment        quality exceeds a predeterminable measure;    -   and wherein an advantageous set of additional circuit boards are        to be populated on each assembly line, the population of which        is planned outside the fixed component setup component cluster        and inside the component cluster expansion.

The setting up of the lines with the components can thus be carried out,the component types of which are used for populating the circuit boardsin the respective fixed component setup component clusters and componentcluster expansion.

For each assembly line having fixed component setups, it is ascertainedwhether and how these fixed component setups may be expanded so thatcircuit boards may also be manufactured using them, the manufacturing ofwhich is assigned to other assembly lines.

Fixed component setups having flexible portions are thus formed. Aflexible portion of a fixed component setup is understood to meancircuit boards which are actually assigned to other assembly lines butcan be manufactured using the fixed component setup. This approach isgenerally only practical for a few fixed component setups, but is notrestricted thereto. This approach is based on mixed integer linearoptimization.

This optimization task is achieved by the following MILP (mixed integerlinear programming), with the goal of making the entirety of theflexible portions of the fixed component setups of an assembly line/asoptimal as possible or possibly to maximize them.

MILP relates to the optimization of linear target functions over a setwhich is restricted by linear equations and inequalities. It is thefoundation of the solution methods of (mixed) integer linearoptimization. A so-called solver is a collective designation for specialmathematical computer programs which can numerically solve mathematicalproblems. In conjunction with MILP (mixed integer linear programming),standard solvers, e.g., CPLEX, Scip, Gurobi, Xpress can be used for IPprograms (integer optimization models).

A mixed integer linear optimization model is first described hereinafterfor the formation of two fixed component setups on different assemblylines. This may be expanded to more than two fixed component setups.

A set of circuit board types is divided onto the fixed component setupsof two assembly lines (fixed portion). Moreover, a flexible portion ofcircuit board types of the other assembly line is also assigned to eachassembly line, which can also be manufactured using the respective fixedcomponent setup.

The following designations apply in the MIP formulation.

Indices

C set of the component typesR set of circuit boardsR_(c) set of the circuit boards having component type cCl set of the fixed component setups/fixed component setup clustersCl={fixed component setup line 1, fixed component setup line 2}

Parameters

Width_(c) space requirement of a component type c in linesLineCap_(cl) number of the lines of the component types which have spacein the setup of the component cluster clTimeLimitr_(r,cl) production time limits for the fixed component setupclTimer_(r,cl) production time of the circuit board r having the fixedcomponent setup cl

Binary Variables

assign_(r,cl) variable which indicates whether a circuit board r (thefixed portion) is assigned to the component cluster cl. (In this case itassumes the value 1, otherwise the value 0)assignFlex_(r,cl) variable which indicates whether a circuit board r isassigned to the flexible portion of the component cluster cl. (In thiscase, it assumes the value 1, otherwise the value 0) setup_(c,cl)variable which indicates whether the component type c has to be equippedin the setup of the component cluster cl. (In this case it assumes thevalue 1, otherwise the value 0)

Target Function

Σ_(cl∈cl)Σ_(r∈R)assignFlex_(r,cl)Time_(r,cl)

maximize

Secondary Conditions:

(1) Each circuit board type has to be fixedly assigned to precisely onecomponent cluster.

$\begin{matrix}{{\sum\limits_{{cl} \in {Cl}}{assign}_{r,{cl}}} = 1} & {r \in R}\end{matrix}$

(2) The component types of the circuit boards of a component clusterhave to match in a component setup.

$\begin{matrix}{{\sum\limits_{c \in C}{{Width}_{c}{setup}_{c,{cl}}}} \leq {LineCap}_{cl}} & {{cl} \in {Cl}}\end{matrix}$

(3) All component types of the fixed and flexible circuit board types ofa component cluster have to be populated in the component setup of thecomponent cluster

$\begin{matrix}{{{\sum\limits_{r \in R_{c}}{assign}_{r,{cl}}} + {assignFlex}_{r,{cl}}} \leq {{❘R_{c}❘}{setup}_{c,{cl}}}} & {{c \in C},{{cl} \in {Cl}}}\end{matrix}$

(4) The sum of the production times of the fixed circuit board types ofa component cluster cannot exceed the production time limit.

$\begin{matrix}{{\sum\limits_{r \in R}{{assign}_{r,{cl}}{Time}_{r,{cl}}}} \leq {TimeLimit}_{cl}} & {{cl} \in {Cl}}\end{matrix}$

(5) A circuit board cannot be assigned simultaneously to the fixed andflexible portions of a component cluster.

assign_(r,cl)+assignFlex_(r,cl)≤1 cl∈cl

(6) Variable restrictions

assign_(r,cl)∈{0,1}r∈R,cl∈cl

assignFlex_(r,cl)∈{0,1}r∈R,cl∈cl

setup_(c,cl)∈{0,1}r∈R,cl∈cl

Moreover, the following points may be taken into consideration in themodel by slightly changed and additional restrictions:

-   -   On the assembly line, there are component shuttle table        restrictions, i.e., components cannot be on all shuttle tables,        but only on a subset    -   Maximum degree of filling of setups    -   Expansion for multiple assembly lines having multiple fixed        component setups    -   Circuit board types can be assigned to at most one flexible        fixed component setup portion.

The above-mentioned control device can then control the populating ofthe circuit boards on the assembly line using this flexible portion orthe optimum setup.

Although embodiments of the invention were illustrated and described inmore detail, embodiments of the invention are not thus restricted by thedisclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by aperson skilled in the conventional art, without leaving the scope ofprotection of embodiments of the invention.

The implementation of the above method can take place on the basis ofinstructions which are provided on computer-readable memory media or involatile computer memories (referred to in summary hereinafter ascomputer-readable memories). The computer memory can be associated withone or the above-mentioned control device. Computer-readable memoriesare, for example, volatile memories such as caches, buffers, or RAM andnonvolatile memories such as removable media, hard drives, etc.

The above-described functions or method steps can be provided here inthe form of at least one instruction set in/on a computer-readablememory. The functions or steps are not linked to a specific instructionset or to a specific form of instruction sets or to a specific memorymedium or to a specific processor or to specific execution schemes andcan be executed by software, firmware, microcode, hardware, processors,integrated circuits, etc. operating alone or in any combination. Greatlyvarying processing strategies can be used, for example, serialprocessing by a single processor or multiprocessing or multitasking orparallel processing, etc. The instructions can be stored in local orcentral memories, however, it is also possible to save the instructionson a remote system and to access them via network.

The term “processor”, “central signal processing”, “control device”, or“data evaluation means”, as used here, comprises processing means in thebroadest sense, thus, for example, servers, universal processors,graphics processors, digital signal processors, application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic circuits such as FPGAs,discrete analog or digital circuits and any combinations thereof,including all other processing means known to a person skilled in theart or developed in the future. Processors can consist here of one ormore devices or units which can be integrated in a device. If aprocessor consists of multiple devices, these can be designed orconfigured for parallel or sequential processing or execution ofinstructions.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form ofembodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerousadditional modifications and variations could be made thereto withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or“an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and“comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A method for populating a predetermined set ofcircuit boards by a component setup on at least two assembly lines in amanufacturing facility, wherein each assembly line comprises a transportsystem and one or more populating machines, wherein each populatingmachine comprises one or more populating heads, which are eachconfigured to pick up components from a shuttle table, wherein thecomponent setup comprises a number of component types, which issufficient for populating a number of circuit board types assigned tothe component setup, which form a component cluster of circuit boardtypes, wherein a fixed component setup, which is fixedly set up onshuttle tables of a shuttle table set and comprises reserves ofcomponents of the component types in lines, remains unchanged during aplanning horizon and can be used repeatedly on the assembly line;wherein the method comprises: a) acquiring a set of circuit board typeswhich are to be populated within the planning horizon in themanufacturing facility; b) acquiring a set of component types of allcircuit board types to be populated within the planning horizon with aspace requirement on lines of the shuttle table set and acquiring anumber of lines which have space in a component setup implemented by anumber of shuttle tables according to the capacity of these shuttletables; c) acquiring a set of fixed component setup component clustersper assembly line; d) acquiring circuit board types assignable to afixed component setup component cluster per assembly line, the circuitboards of which are to be populated on the assembly line, wherein thecircuit board types are each assigned to a fixed component setup on oneof the assembly lines; e) acquiring circuit board types assignable to acomponent cluster expansion per fixed component setup component cluster,wherein a component cluster expansion together with an associated fixedcomponent setup component cluster results in a component cluster,wherein a space requirement of lines of the component types assigned toa fixed component setup component cluster and those assigned to acomponent cluster expansion is less than or equal to the number of lineswhich have space in the component setup implemented by a number ofshuttle tables according to the capacity of these shuttle tables, andwherein the circuit board types assignable to a component clusterexpansion associated with a fixed component setup component cluster arecircuit board types which have been assigned to a different assemblyline than the circuit board types of the fixed component setup componentcluster, f) determining an assignment of circuit board types to fixedcomponent setup component clusters and component cluster expansions,wherein the assignment takes place in such a way that a spacerequirement on lines of the component types assigned to a fixedcomponent setup component cluster and those assigned to a componentcluster expansion is less than or equal to the number of lines whichhave space in the component setup implemented by a number of shuttletables according to the capacity of these shuttle tables; and whereinthe assignment takes place in such a way that a sum of the productiontimes of the circuit boards to be populated within the planning horizonof those circuit board types which are assigned to the fixed componentsetup component cluster falls below a predeterminable production timelimit, g) optimizing the determined assignment so that a sum of theproduction times of an advantageous set of additional circuit boardtypes on each assembly line is maximized; and wherein the advantageousset of additional circuit board types is planned on each assembly lineusing the component cluster expansion, h) setting up the lines with thecomponents, the component types of which are used for populating thecircuit boards in the respective fixed component setup componentclusters and component cluster expansion; and i) populating the circuitboards of the acquired circuit board types from a) on the assembly lineby the component setup from h).
 9. The method as claimed in the claim 8,wherein the assignment is additionally determined on a basis of one ofthe following possibilities: a) a number of orders during the planninghorizon, wherein each order relates to populating a number of circuitboards of a predetermined circuit board type of the fixed componentsetup component cluster and/or b) a sum of the circuit boards to bepopulated within the planning horizon of those circuit board types whichare assigned to the fixed component setup component cluster.
 10. Themethod as claimed in claim 8, wherein the advantageous set of additionalcircuit boards results from the following: a maximum number ofadditional circuit boards which can be populated on the assembly lines,and/or a maximum number of circuit board types, if the additionalcircuit boards are populated on the assembly line, and/or a maximumnumber of high-priority circuit board types, and/or a frequency of anoccurrence of one circuit board type within the circuit boards that canbe additionally populated, and/or a maximum achievable piece count perunit of time of circuit boards that can be populated in themanufacturing facility, and/or a selection of circuit board types havingmaximum total production time which are selected from the set of circuitboard types acquired under a).
 11. The method as claimed in claim 8,wherein the determination of the assignment from f) and the optimizationof the determined assignment from g) are carried out by mixed integerlinear programming.
 12. A control device suitable for populating apredetermined set of circuit boards by a component setup on at least twoassembly lines in a manufacturing facility, wherein each assembly linecomprises a transport system and one or more populating machines,wherein each populating machine comprises one or more populating heads,which are each configured to pick up components from a shuttle table,wherein the component setup comprises a number of component types, whichis sufficient for populating a number of circuit board types assigned tothe component setup, which form a component cluster of circuit boardtypes, wherein a fixed component setup, which is fixedly set up onshuttle tables of a shuttle table set and comprises reserves ofcomponents of the component types in lines, remains unchanged during aplanning horizon and can be used repeatedly on the assembly line;wherein the control device is configured to a) acquire a set of circuitboard types which are to be populated within the planning horizon in themanufacturing facility; b) acquire a set of component types of allcircuit board types to be populated within the planning horizon with aspace requirement on lines of the shuttle table set and acquire a numberof lines which have space in a component setup implemented by a numberof shuttle tables according to the capacity of these shuttle tables; c)acquire a set of fixed component setup component clusters per assemblyline; d) acquire circuit board types assignable to a fixed componentsetup component cluster per assembly line, the circuit boards of whichare to be populated on the assembly line, wherein the circuit boardtypes are each assigned to a fixed component setup on one of theassembly lines; e) acquire circuit board types assignable to a componentcluster expansion per assembly line, wherein a component clusterexpansion together with an associated fixed component setup componentcluster results in a component cluster, wherein a space requirement oflines of the component types assigned to a fixed component setupcomponent cluster and those assigned to a component cluster expansion isless than or equal to the number of lines which have space in thecomponent setup implemented by a number of shuttle tables according tothe capacity of these shuttle tables, and wherein the circuit boardtypes assignable to a component cluster expansion associated with afixed component setup component cluster are circuit board types whichhave been assigned to a different assembly line than the circuit boardtypes of the fixed component setup component cluster, f) determine anassignment of circuit board types to fixed component setup componentclusters and component cluster expansions, wherein the assignment takesplace in such a way that a space requirement on lines of the componenttypes assigned to a fixed component setup component cluster and thoseassigned to a component cluster expansion is less than or equal to thenumber of lines which have space in the component setup implemented by anumber of shuttle tables according to the capacity of these shuttletables; and wherein the assignment takes place in such a way that a sumof the production times of the circuit boards to be populated within theplanning horizon of those circuit board types which are assigned to thefixed component setup component cluster falls below a predeterminableproduction time limit, g) optimize the determined assignment so that asum of the production times of an advantageous set of additional circuitboard types on each assembly line is maximized; and wherein theadvantageous set of additional circuit boards is planned on eachassembly line using the component cluster expansion, h) control thesetting up of the lines with the components, the component types ofwhich are used for populating the circuit boards in the respective fixedcomponent setup component clusters and component cluster expansion; andi) carry out the population of the circuit boards of the acquiredcircuit board types from a) on the assembly line by the component setupfrom h).